Written Answers Nos. 295-314
295. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will liaise with the Minister for Health and NPHET when reassessing the risk of attendance at outdoor sports events in large venues in view of the impact this social outlet has on the mental health and wellbeing of many persons. [18288/20]
View answerIt is not possible for me to respond to this question at present as the transfer of functions has not yet occurred and therefore this question will be proper to the Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism.
296. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details of the 22 conditions attached to the licensing of a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18323/20]
View answer297. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of breaches of the licensing agreement she has with a club (details supplied) in the past ten years to date; and the sanctions imposed on the club as a result of those breaches. [18324/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.
My Department issues two separate licences to the club in question on behalf of its affiliated clubs to facilitate the netting of and tagging of hares for closed park meetings. The most recent licences issued for the last 2019/20 coursing season for the tagging of hares contained 6 conditions while the licence relating to the netting of hares contained 35 conditions. These licences are available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at https://www.npws.ie/licences/hare-coursing.
My Department has taken sanctions against a number of coursing clubs in recent years for breaches of conditions of the licences and I set out in the table below details relating to these sanctions.
|
Coursing Season |
Number of Clubs sanctioned |
Reason for Sanction |
Sanction |
|
2015/16 |
2 |
Lack of co-operation with officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department |
15% reduction in the number of courses to be run at the following seasons meeting |
|
2016/17 |
1 |
Hares missing at the end of the meeting |
20% reduction in the number of courses to be run at the following seasons meeting |
|
2018/19 |
1 |
Hares missing at the end of the meeting |
16% reduction in the number of courses to be run at the following seasons meeting |
|
2019/20 |
1 |
High number of hare deaths at a meeting |
40% reduction in the number of courses to be run at the following seasons meeting |
298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of registered owners who failed to give 14-days' notice in writing to a club (details supplied) of the date of death of their greyhound in the past five years to date; the sanctions imposed on these breeders for failure to comply; the number of greyhounds notified as deceased over the same time period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18325/20]
View answerThe Minister has no remit regarding the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. This matter is the responsibility for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
299. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the options available to the board of directors of a building (details supplied) that has been closed for three years and has been refused a grant under the rural regeneration and development fund as part of efforts to reopen. [18358/20]
View answerMy Department has been in discussions on a number of occasions in recent times with the college authority in question in relation to its plans to upgrade the property which is recognised as one of seven residential summer colleges for the purposes of funding under the Department's Scéim na bhFoghlaoimeoirí Gaeilge.
I understand that on foot of these discussions the college authority was considering submitting a business plan and formal application for capital funding under the Department's Community and Language Supports Programme. I also understand that the college authority was in communication with a number of other potential funding sources.
While my Department has not received a funding application to date, on foot of those recent discussions with the college authority, the Deputy may be assured that any such application for assistance under the aformementioned programme - encompassing a business plan which aligns with the requirements set out in the Public Spending Code - will receive careful consideration in the context of competing priorities and available resources.
The Deputy may also be assured that my officials remain available to the college authority in order to offer further guidance and advice in the matter, should such be required.
300. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta mionsonraí a thabhairt i dtaobh an méid iomlán maoinithe is tacaíochtaí Stáit a cuireadh ar fáil do Chonradh na Gaeilge le cúig bliana anuas; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [18396/20]
View answerCuirtear maoiniú ar fáil do Chonradh na Gaeilge faoi mhíreanna éagsúla de Vóta mo Roinne. Tá comhoibriú leanúnach idir oifigigh mo Roinne agus Oifigigh Fhoras na Gaeilge agus Chonradh na Gaeilge mar a bhaineann le maoiniú agus bearta le tacú le pobal na Gaeilge i gcur chun cinn na teanga ar fud an oileáin.
Cuirtear maoiniú ar fáil do Chonradh na Gaeilge mar cheann de na ceanneagraíochtaí atá ceaptha ag Foras na Gaeilge chun an teanga a chur chun cinn. Is é Foras na Gaeilge a riarann an maoiniú seo as buiséad n Fhoras Teanga, buiséad atá ceadaithe ag an gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas (CATT). Léirítear an caiteachas seo i dTábla 1 thíos mar aon le maoiniú breise faoi scáth Fhoras na Gaeilge.
Tábla 1
Conradh na Gaeilge
|
- |
2015 € |
2016 € |
2017 € |
2018 € |
2019 € |
Iomlán € |
|
Maoiniú Ceanneagraíochta |
882,301 |
840,866 |
832,457 |
832,457 |
832,457 |
4,220,538 |
|
Bliain na Gaeilge |
|
|
|
475,866 |
|
475,866 |
|
Scolaireachtaí |
42,949 |
35,000 |
32,681 |
35,100 |
39,648 |
185,378 |
|
PEIG.ie |
57,005 |
2,720 |
|
|
|
59,725 |
|
Iomlán |
982,255.00 |
878,586.00 |
865,138.00 |
1,343,423.00 |
872,105.00 |
4,941,507.00 |
Idir 2015 agus 2019, cuireadh mór iomlán de €4,941,507.00 ar fáil as bhuiséad Fhoras na Gaeilge.
Cuirtear maoiniú ar fáil chomh maith do thionscnaimh reatha agus caipitil faoi Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge mo Roinne. Léirítear an caiteachas seo i dTábla 2 agus Tábla 3 anseo.
Tábla 2
Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge
|
Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge |
2015 (Íoctha) € |
2016 (íoctha) € |
2017 (íoctha) € |
2018 (íoctha) € |
2019 (íoctha) € |
|
Raidió Rí-Rá |
53,000 |
- |
- |
75,000 |
75,000 |
|
An Seó Bóthair agus Ceardlanna Tríú Leibhéal |
- |
- |
7,764 |
11,698 |
13,000 |
|
Gluaiseacht Seó Bóthair |
- |
- |
- |
- |
80,000 |
|
Cultúr Club |
- |
- |
- |
28,170 |
34,454 |
|
Cartlann Athbheochan na Gaeilge |
- |
- |
- |
11,000 |
60,000 |
|
Ard-Fheis ELEN |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6,500 |
|
IOMLÁN |
53,000 |
- |
7,764 |
125,868 |
268,954 |
Tábla 3 (Caipitil)
|
Caipitil |
2015 (Íoctha) € |
2016 (íoctha) € |
2017 (íoctha) € |
2018 (íoctha) € |
2019 (íoctha) € |
|
Lárionad Gaeilge, BÁC, Sráid Fhearchair |
- |
- |
12,269 |
22,000 |
- |
|
Oibreacha athchóirithe ag Sr. Fhearchair |
- |
- |
- |
- |
42,500 |
|
Oibreacha athchóirithe ag Sr. Fhearchair |
34,849 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
IOMLÁN |
34,849 |
- |
12,269 |
22,000 |
42,500 |
In 2016 agus 2017, cuireadh maoiniú atá leagtha amach i dTábla 4 thíos ar fáil faoin Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá na tograí seo á gceadú anois faoi Fo-mhír C4 (Tábla 2) thuas ó 2017 i leith.
Tábla 4
|
- |
2015 (Íoctha) € |
2016 (íoctha) € |
2017 (íoctha) € |
2018 (íoctha) € |
2019 (íoctha) € |
|
Raidió Rí-Rá* |
- |
75,000 |
75,000 |
- |
- |
|
Cartlann Athbheochan na Gaeilge* |
- |
- |
104,000 |
- |
- |
|
IOMLÁN |
|
75,000 |
179,000 |
|
|
301. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to establish a dedicated famine museum in Ireland which could be a stand-alone museum in Collins Barracks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18405/20]
View answerThere are many local museums and other entities around the country that display material relating to the famine, such as the very significant Irish National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park, County Roscommon.
Decisions in relation to the curation and presentation of temporary or permanent exhibitions within State funded museums in Dublin are operational matters for the relevant cultural institutions or other entities concerned and I understand that there are no plans at present for the establishment of a dedicated famine museum in Collins Barracks.
302. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when survey work will commence on the status of the freshwater pearl mussel in the River Blackwater. [18623/20]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 16666/20.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service intends to carry out the survey design, planning and costing for this work later this year.
While work programmes in my Department for next year must be considered in the context of wider budgetary discussions in the coming months, subject to resources being available, I hope that the survey work on the status of the freshwater pearl mussel in the River Blackwater can commence in 2021.
303. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of increasing the funding to National Parks and Wildlife Services by 7.5% in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18633/20]
View answerThe 2020 provision for National Parks and Wildlife Service, as set out in the published Revised Estimates Volume is €13,727,000. Therefore the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the National Parks and Wildlife Service by 7.5% in 2021 would be €1,029,525.
304. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of the investigation into the 2019 poisoning of 23 buzzards in County Cork. [18644/20]
View answerOfficials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are continuing with their investigations into the deaths of the buzzards in Co. Cork. I am unable at this time to put a target date for the completion of this investigation.
305. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to any work being carried out to provide guidelines for non-food serving pubs and live music venues to help them prepare for a safe reopening. [18645/20]
View answer317. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if councils will be supported in hosting outdoor arts events which maintain public health guidelines such as an event (details supplied) which launched recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19178/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 317 together.
Primary support for the arts in Ireland is delivered by the Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003. In June, the Government made an additional €20 million available to the Arts Council and a further €5 million as part of the July stimulus bringing the 2020 allocation to €105 million.
I understand that the outdoor arts event referred to by Deputy Gannon is made possible through public funding, sponsorship, donations and fundraising. The Arts Council operates a number of funding schemes for arts organisations such as that referred to by the Deputy and details of these may be viewed on their website's funding page.
The Arts Council works with the Local Authorities partnership through its strategic partnership which has been in operation for 10 years. Under this partnership, the Council provides funding on a competitive basis to support local authorities with ambitious and imaginative proposals to assist artists in developing their practice and their ideas, and/or deliver excellent arts experiences to the public. This includes funding to the local authorities who are in turn fund cultural events similar to that which the second Deputy refers to. Further details of these initiatives with local authorities’ arts offices can be accessed on the Arts Council's website under "local arts” at the following link www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Local-arts/.
Support for the local authorities is also provided under the Creative Ireland Programme which comprises of work co-funded by my Department and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. In the past few weeks, my officials in the Creative Ireland Programme have been working with Programme partners including in the local authorities to develop a series of newly-funded initiatives in relation to positive ageing and creative wellbeing.
Operation and licensing of pubs is a matter for the Minister for Justice and school transport is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills. Deputy O'Sullivan may wish to note that that the Return to Work Safely Protocol published by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation provides detailed guidance developed to assist employers and employees in the coming period and is available at this link
https://www.gov.ie/en/news/58bc8b-taoiseach-announces-roadmap-for-reopening-society-and-business-and-u/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/roadmap/.
In line with the revised ‘Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business’, pubs that do not serve substantial meals are due to reopen in Phase 4, which is scheduled to commence on 10 August. With reference to live music events the current restrictions of 50 people at indoor gatherings and 200 people at outdoor gatherings have been extended to 10 August.
Fáilte Ireland has published Guidelines for re-opening tailored to the various sectors of the Irish tourism industry including the reopening of pubs which can be accessed at this link https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf. These guidelines are intended to provide clarity to operators so that they can reopen safely. The operational guidelines will be regularly updated by Fáilte Ireland in line with Government public health advice as and when this advice evolves.
306. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when film shoots and sets are permitted to resume work; if it will be 10 August 2020; if not, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18853/20]
View answerIn line with the Government Roadmap, film production can resume in Phase 3 of the Roadmap which took effect from 29 June 2020. In anticipation of the return to production Screen Producers Ireland, in consultation with key industry stakeholders and with funding from Screen Skills Ireland’s Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, Screen Producers Ireland published COVID-19 Production Guidelines for live action film and TV drama which were developed in the context of the Government Return to Work Safely Protocols and which will be updated as appropriate, as Government public health advice changes and evolves. As is the case across the economy, all businesses that seek to reopen must ensure that they are in a position to do safely and in line with the continued public health measures.
307. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a report (details supplied) in relation to the film and television sector and other artists will be available; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18948/20]
View answerThe Report to which the Deputy refers is being prepared by an independent State body under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and whose Board is appointed by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Last Autumn, following a joint request by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Services, Industry, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), and Screen Producers Ireland, the organisation in question undertook an audit of the Republic of Ireland Independent Film and Television Drama Production Sector with a view to:
- examining industrial relations generally, employment practices and procedure,
- assessing issues arising (if any), and
- making recommendations for their improvement where appropriate.
Submissions were invited and accepted on these matters and I understand a report will be published in due course. When available, the report will be studied by my Department.
308. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department owns a folio (details supplied); if so, when the land parcels were taken into Departmental ownership; the reason the land parcels were taken into Departmental ownership; if they are not in Departmental ownership, the reason the Land Registry indicates they are; if it will be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19067/20]
View answerI can confirm that the land was acquired by the Department in order to assist Waterways Ireland (or its predecessors) in the development and maintenance of the Shannon-Erne Waterway.
The folios in question were registered on February 10th 1999 (Folio: LM 8164F, Plan No. 73) and June 5th 2001 (Folio: LM 9660F, Plan No. 74).
I am informed that Waterways Ireland continues to have an operational need for this land to facilitate maintenance and development works on the Shannon-Erne Waterway. I am assured that Waterways Ireland will work with local groups to facilitate local community gain on this site.
309. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budget allocation to the Heritage Council in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [19078/20]
View answerThe voted funding allocation to the Heritage Council each year is published in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Revised Estimates Volume. The amounts published from 2018 to 2020 are set out below:
2018 - €6.377 million
2019 - €6.588 million
2020 - €6.605 million.
310. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta soiléiriú a thabhairt maidir le stádas Phlean Teanga Chathair na Gaillimhe; cén dáta a fhoilseofar é [19136/20]
View answerTá plean teanga Chathair na Gaillimhe curtha faoi bhráid mo Roinne ag Foras na Gaeilge agus á bhreithniú faoi láthair.
Ach an plean a bheith faofa agam faoi réir fhorálacha Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, rachfar i dteagmháil le Foras na Gaeilge, atá freagrach as maoirsiú a dhéanamh ar an scéal sa chás seo, chun na socruithe ábhartha a chur ar bun le haghaidh an plean a chur i bhfeidhm.
311. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider giving additional funding to an organisation (details supplied) to allow it to enhance the Grand Canal from Harold’s Cross Bridge to Park West Bridge. [19166/20]
View answerWaterways Ireland's work programmes are critical to providing a safe and high quality recreational environment for the public, whilst also preserving the industrial and environmental heritage of the waterways for future generations. These challenges must be balanced with its objective of increasing recreational activity across all our waterways.
Waterways Ireland maintains the waters and banks of the Grand Canal on a rotating programme of maintenance along its length. Maintenance is complex and takes time, requiring a boat, staff and removal equipment operating in the water. Dumping of waste in the canal and along its banks continues to be challenging. Waterways Ireland has confirmed that operations staff based in Dublin will visit the specified area and assess if there are interim actions can be undertaken.
Waterways Ireland has invested in supporting education initiatives along the canal as part of its commitment to biodiversity and the environment and will continue to undertake the maintenance and education programmes as circumstances allow.
The Estimates for 2020 have provided for an allocation of €25,663,000 for Waterways Ireland, made up of €21,283,000 in Current funding and €4,380,000 in Capital funding. This is an overall increase of €546,000 on the original 2019 allocation. Funding for Waterways Ireland is for investment in the management, maintenance and development of the inland waterways under its control. Any proposed works to be carried out are an operational matter for Waterways Ireland which will take into account its strategic business objectives for the waterways network.
312. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider giving additional funding to an organisation (details supplied) so that in conjunction with Dublin City Council it can enhance the tow-paths along the Grand Canal from Harold’s Cross Bridge to Blackhorse Bridge to make it more secure on both sides of the canal, to develop a continuous cycleway linking to that from the Grange in County Dublin to Blackhorse Bridge and to upgrade the existing paths for pedestrians. [19167/20]
View answerWaterways Ireland is working in partnership with Dublin City Council, the National Transport Authority and Cycle Dublin on this project. This section is a vital link in the development of the Grand Canal Greenway, one of Waterways Ireland large scale projects being delivered in Dublin.
Detailed design is ongoing and a number of technical and property issues have been encountered on this route. The partners in the development are actively seeking solutions to overcome these issues.
The Estimates for 2020 have provided for an allocation of €25,663,000 for Waterways Ireland, made up of €21,283,000 in Current funding and €4,380,000 in Capital funding. This is an overall increase of €546,000 on the original 2019 allocation.
The funding of Waterways Ireland for 2020 is for investment in the management, maintenance and development of the inland waterways under its control.
Any proposed works to be carried out are an operational matter for Waterways Ireland which will take into account its strategic business objectives for the waterways network.
313. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the taskforce on the recovery for the arts sector post-Covid-19 will be set up; and the membership and remit of same. [19168/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a taskforce to develop a clear approach, informed by the views of all stakeholders, to protect and sustain the arts and culture sector through the COVID-19 recovery and beyond. This will be fed into the National Economic Plan. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this taskforce shortly.
314. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific projects funded under the Project Ireland 2040 capital plan; the amount committed to each project pre-Covid-19 and as a result of emergency funding. [19174/20]
View answerMy Department's investment programme under Project Ireland 2040 is set out in its sectoral plan Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage – 2018 to 2027. This plan involves three types of investment activity; major capital projects, capital investment and infrastructure programmes, and capital grant schemes. Major capital projects are appraised, planned, implemented and evaluated in line with the Public Spending Code and best practice guidance outlined in the Capital Works Management Framework published by the Office of Government Procurement.
The majority of the Department’s major capital projects fall within an ambitious programme of redevelopment and renovation of our National Cultural Institutions (NCIs) where considerable progress has been made to date in progressing projects through the appraisal and design/planning stages. From a total investment of €460 million, the National Development Plan set out the following indicative investments for each of the projects included under this element of the Department’s investment programme.
|
Institution |
Indicative Investment by Department |
|
National Library of Ireland |
€23 million |
|
National Archives |
€22 million |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
€85 million |
|
National Concert Hall |
€78 million |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
€22 million |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
€54 million |
|
Abbey Theatre |
€80 million |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
€36 million |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
€20 million |
A further €40 million has also been set aside to address essential maintenance and remedial works in these historic buildings over the 10-year implementation period of the investment programme.
Already this year, my Department has commenced Phase 2 of the redevelopment of National Library of Ireland involving essential external works and investigative works relating to the historic West Wing of the library. This phase will provide invaluable information which will ensure robust cost estimates for the major redevelopment of the West Wing in subsequent phases. Similarly, the OPW, which is an important partner in the delivery of the NCI programme, will shortly commence investigative and remedial works at the Natural History Museum, which will again inform the final project budget. In respect of the National Archives redevelopment, the project has just completed the tender stage and a tender analysis is currently underway. This will inform the final project budget and construction is expected to commence within the coming months. This redevelopment will see the Archives’ capacity increased significantly with the provision of a secure environmentally-controlled archival repository that meets modern archival standards. All works are contingent on COVID-19 public health restrictions and guidelines currently in place.
Work is continuing with the other National Cultural Institutions in partnership with the Office of Public Works to progress individual capital projects as they advance through the project life-cycle required by the Public Spending Code. I expect to approve a number of strategic assessments and preliminary business cases over the coming months to enable further appraisal, planning, design and procurement to commence. In particular, I intend to advance projects at the Crawford Art Gallery, a further phase of the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Concert Hall and the Abbey Theatre.
In respect of these major capital projects, the indicative investment set out in Project Ireland 2040 are managed in the context of multi-annual capital allocations available to my Department. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the Government, last week, announced a broad ranging stimulus package which included capital funding of up to €6 million being made available to my Department to accelerate the aforementioned planning, design and procurement phases at a number of these National Cultural Institutions. This investment under the stimulus package is just one of a number of measures announced by Government to support the Culture and Gaeltacht sectors over the past months.
As mentioned previously, these major capital projects are just one element of my Department's investment under Project Ireland 2040 with other crucial investments being delivered through investment programmes, grant schemes and in partnership with agencies under the aegis of the Department.
Over the 10-years of the programme, we are investing €265 million in Culture and Creativity which includes a broad range of investments in the development and support for our audiovisual industry through Screen Ireland, in enhancing and future proofing our regional arts and culture infrastructure through a number of grant schemes, as well as supporting important projects like the Beyond 2022 project, which is currently in the process of digitally recreating the 1922 Public Records Office, and the redevelopment of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.
Under the €285 million Heritage Investment Programme, we support a wide range of important built heritage restoration and maintenance projects across the country under both the Historic Structures Fund and Built Heritage Investment Scheme. Funding of over €4.3 million was announced to support 449 projects under these schemes last month. In terms of our natural heritage, we are progressing a broad range of projects and programmes which protect our unique landscapes and enhance all our wellbeing through our National Parks and Nature Reserves. 2019 saw a significant programme of trails upgrades across this network which is being continued and expanded to include enhancing our visitor facilities and improving physical distancing measures in 2020. Additionally, my Department also announced a major €5 million investment in peatlands restoration earlier this year.
My Department is also working closely with Údarás na Gaeltachta to deliver a capital investment programme of €105 million to enhance and support employment opportunities across the Gaeltacht. This is one element of a total €178 million investment in our language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands which will also see enhancements in marine infrastructure, in particular at Inis Oírr pier, and in language and cultural hubs throughout the country. In terms of the latter, the Department is working closely with key partners Conradh na Gaeilge, Fáilte Ireland and Dublin City Council to redevelop 6 Harcourt Street as a flagship language and cultural hub in Dublin City.
